How to Fold an Easy Traditional Origami Swan
Do you love the grace of swans and how they move so gracefully? If so, folding an origami swan is a perfect way to capture this image in paper form.
Swans are cherished in Japan for their lifelong pair bonding and elegant movements, qualities that make the origami swan a popular project both in Japan and around the world.
This model is fantastic for beginners and fun for all ages, requiring only simple mountain and valley folds to achieve a beautifully angular and abstract representation of a swan.
Whether you’re using plain white paper to echo the swan’s purity or opting for a beautiful patterned paper, this traditional origami swan is a lovely way to spend less than five minutes adding a touch of tranquility to your day.
Traditional Origami Swan Step-by-Step Instructions
- Difficulty: Super Easy
- Folding time: Less than 5 minutes
- Model designer: Traditional
- Paper: Kami 15×15 cm
Step 1
Start with the white side facing up. Fold in half diagonally and unfold.
Here, I’m using chiyogami (patterned paper), so I want the pattern to face down.
Step 2
Fold the sides to the center line and turn the paper over.
Step 3
Fold the sides to the center line again.
Step 4
Fold the bottom corner to the top corner.
Step 5
Fold the tip down.
Step 6
Mountain fold the model in half.
Step 7
Pull the neck upwards.
Step 8
Pull the head up.
The completed origami Swan
🦢 Folding tip: While this isn’t part of the traditional model, you can pleat the tip of the head to create a beak like the image above.
Well done! You’ve just folded your very own paper swan.
If you’d like to shape it further, check out our reel:
This traditional origami swan will bring a sense of peace wherever it’s placed. It’s perfect for decorating your space or gifting it to someone special.
I hope you enjoyed this tutorial as much as I loved guiding you through it. Feel free to share your models with us in the comments or on social media. Happy folding!
There is a missing step between step 6 and 7 for folding the swan’s head.
Hi there! The steps seem good to me. You just fold the model in half and then pull the neck upwards. I’ve also added a link to our reel to help you shape it further. You can find it after the steps.